Natura Resources LLC Sr. Mechnical Engineer, Nuclear Abilene, TX · Full time Company website

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Natura Resources is committed to answering the world's increased demand for reliable energy, medical isotopes, and clean water by developing commercially deployable liquid-fueled molten salt reactors.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer, Nuclear provides mechanical engineering leadership for the development and implementation of reactor mechanical systems, equipment, and design deliverables. The role supports detailed design, design verification, technical reviews, interface control, procurement specifications, supplier and fabrication coordination, and resolution of technical issues. 

 

This position works closely with the Chief Engineer, project leadership, engineering disciplines, QA, licensing, procurement, chemistry, operations readiness, and external engineering and fabrication partners. The role is expected to apply disciplined nuclear design control practices, including control of design inputs, assumptions, calculations, drawings, specifications, design changes, configuration impacts, and objective evidence. 

 

The successful candidate must be able to work in a first-of-a-kind project environment while maintaining technical rigor, documentation discipline, conservatism, and alignment with applicable codes, standards, QA requirements, and project commitments. 

Location: Abilene, TX / Hybrid

 

Employment Status: Full-Time

 

Benefits: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 401(k), Paid Time Off (PTO)

 

Reports To: Chief Engineer  

 

Role Authority 

The Senior Mechanical Engineer, Nuclear has delegated authority within assigned scope to develop, review, and recommend approval of mechanical design outputs, provide technical direction, identify and elevate design control concerns, and require resolution of technical comments before assigned design products are released or used for procurement, fabrication, construction, testing, or operations readiness. 

 

The role is expected to maintain technical independence and rigor when evaluating design adequacy, supplier information, design changes, nonconforming conditions, and deviations from approved requirements. Material technical decisions, design changes, or departures from approved requirements must be elevated for review and approval through the applicable engineering, QA, licensing, and project governance processes. 

 

Responsibilities 

Mechanical Design and Design Control 

Lead or support mechanical design activities for assigned MSR-1 systems, components, and equipment. Develop, review, and maintain design inputs, design basis information, calculations, drawings, specifications, design reports, equipment requirements, and technical basis documents in accordance with applicable design control requirements. 

 

Ensure design outputs are complete, technically justified, independently reviewed when required, traceable to requirements, and suitable for procurement, fabrication, installation, testing, and operation. 

 

Technical Reviews, Verification, and Configuration Control 

Perform and support design reviews, design verification, interdisciplinary reviews, supplier document reviews, constructability reviews, and technical evaluations. Identify technical gaps, resolve comments, document assumptions, and ensure open items are tracked to closure. 

 

Support configuration management and engineering change control by evaluating technical, QA, licensing, procurement, fabrication, schedule, and operational impacts of proposed changes. 

 

Codes, Standards, and Nuclear Quality Integration 

Apply applicable codes, standards, and nuclear quality expectations to mechanical design activities, including NQA-1 Requirement 3 design control practices, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B Criterion III when invoked, and relevant ASME, pressure boundary, piping, structural, materials, and high-temperature design requirements. 

 

Work with QA and licensing personnel to ensure mechanical design products, procurement requirements, supplier submittals, and technical records support applicable QA program commitments and licensing assumptions. 

 

Procurement, Supplier, and Fabrication Support 

Support procurement and supplier execution by developing technical specifications, reviewing supplier proposals and submittals, resolving technical questions, supporting source or receipt inspections as needed, and ensuring supplier documentation meets technical, QA, and records requirements. 

 

Provide mechanical engineering support for fabrication planning, manufacturing issues, deviation requests, nonconforming conditions, and acceptance of delivered items. 

 

Project Integration and Technical Leadership 

Coordinate with engineering disciplines, project controls, procurement, chemistry, R&D, QA, licensing, and operations readiness to ensure mechanical design work is aligned with project priorities, interfaces, schedule needs, and technical assumptions. 

 

Mentor less experienced engineers, provide clear technical direction, communicate risks early, and support a culture of disciplined engineering execution in a fast-moving project environment. 

 

Minimum Qualifications 

• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience in nuclear, nuclear supplier, DOE, NRC-regulated, or other high-consequence engineering environments. 
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline. 
• Experience developing, reviewing, or approving mechanical design outputs such as calculations, drawings, specifications, design reports, equipment requirements, and supplier technical documents. 
• Experience working under formal design control, configuration management, engineering change control, or quality-affecting engineering processes; experience in nuclear design control is preferred. 
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical systems, pressure boundary components, piping, vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, supports, materials, or high-temperature equipment. 
• Ability to perform technical reviews, identify design gaps, resolve interdisciplinary issues, and document technical decisions with appropriate rigor. 
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and cross-functional coordination skills. 

 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in nuclear design engineering, advanced reactors, research reactors, DOE projects, NRC-regulated environments, or nuclear supplier organizations. 
• Experience with NQA-1, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B Criterion III, ANS-15.8, DOE nuclear expectations, or comparable nuclear design control frameworks. 
• Experience with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, including Section III, Division 5, or other high-temperature reactor mechanical design codes and standards. 
• Experience with molten salt systems, liquid-metal systems, high-temperature piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, corrosion-resistant materials, thermal stress, or chemically aggressive service environments. 
• Experience supporting procurement specifications, supplier technical evaluations, fabrication oversight, commercial-grade dedication, receipt inspection, or supplier document reviews. 
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, advanced engineering degree, or other relevant technical certification. 

 

Leadership Expectations 

The Senior Mechanical Engineer, Nuclear is expected to help Natura mature its engineering execution capability by producing high-quality design outputs, reinforcing disciplined design control practices, mentoring engineers, and supporting practical, technically credible project execution. 

 

Physical Demands 

This role is primarily office-based, with occasional travel to project sites, supplier facilities, fabrication locations, stakeholder meetings, or partner locations as needed. The role may require participation in design reviews, supplier reviews, field walkdowns, inspections, project reviews, and site-based execution activities. 

 

Must be capable of working in office, project site, laboratory, industrial, or construction-adjacent environments as needed. Occasional lifting of technical materials up to 40 lbs may be required.